Guest Post with Giveaway ~ Scorched Eggs by Laura Childs

I’ve been writing, creating companies, and investing in small businesses for well over thirty years and I’ll be the first one to tell you there are no shortcuts to creativity. No muse in a diaphanous gown is ever waiting to swoop down from heaven and whisper sweet solutions in your ear.

However. There are a few diabolically clever steps that you can follow if you want to create a product, launch a business, or even just bring about a creative change in your life. Because creativity is all about spotting problems, trends, and opportunities, and then finding the right solution to help you move forward.

Define your goal.

Here’s where you define the problem you want to solve – or sketch out a general idea of where you want to go with your problem or business. That is, what’s the best end result you could possibly imagine? (Example: I want to write a bestselling romance novel. I want to start a home-based business that will gross $20,000 the first year.)

Brainstorm.

If you’ve never brainstormed a new business or product – or even a new direction for your life – here’s how you start. Write your issue at the top of a very large sheet of paper. Now, using Post-it Notes, write down ideas, words, inspirational phrases, and actual steps that you think will be the most helpful. If you feel you can’t do this by yourself, invite a few friends in to help generate new ideas or to use as a sounding board for your own ideas.

Research.

Scour the Internet and collect as much data as you can that will help you solve your problem and reach your goal. Be sure to check out your competitors. What are they doing right? What are they doing wrong? Now try to integrate some of this information onto your sheet of paper. If you get stuck, go for a walk. Scientists have found that walking – not sitting at a desk – helps boost creativity. (Tip: Recognize that change and innovation are two very different things.)

Know that you’re takinga risk.

Don’t be afraid of change – or of rocking the boat. Trust your intuition and insight. I guarantee, 95% of the time its going to be spot on.

Implement your plan.

Now it’s time to reach for the stars and launch your business or new plan. Know in your heart that you can do this. And never, never take no for an answer!

In Laura Childs’s New York Times bestselling mystery series, Suzanne, Petra, and Toni—co-owners of the Cackleberry Club Café—are equally good at serving up breakfast and serving up justice. This time they turn up the heat on a deadly firebug…

As Suzanne is getting her hair colored at Root 66, she’s stunned to witness the County Services office next door suddenly go up in flames. Concerned neighbors throng the streets, and the fire department does their best. Unfortunately, their best isn’t enough to save longtime civil service worker—and friend to the Cackleberry Club—Hannah Venable.

Soon enough, it’s discovered that an accelerant was used to fan the flames. Someone set the fire on purpose—was Hannah the intended victim? Suzanne, Petra, and Toni vow to smoke out the culprit.

Unfortunately, the list of suspects is as varied as the Cackleberry Club’s menu. When Suzanne finds a possible connection between the fire and the nearby Prairie Star Casino, she comes to realize that the arsonist wanted something very big and bad kept secret. And if the ladies aren’t careful, they may be the ones gambling with their lives…

Thanks to the publisher, I have one (1) copy of Scorched Eggs to give away.

Giveaway open to residents of the US only.
Giveaway ends on January 2nd

Winner will have 48 hours, from the time of notification to confirm their win or another winner will be chosen.

Laura Childs is the author of the Cackleberry Club Mysteries, Tea Shop Mysteries, and Scrapbooking Mysteries. Her books have been named to the USA Today and New York Times Bestseller Lists, and have been featured selections in the Literary Guilds Mystery Book Club. She is a former Cleo Award-winning advertising writer and CEO of Mission Critical Marketing. She is currently co-executive producer of two reality television shows.

Comments

I would really be thrilled to win this book as I have read almost all of the ones preceeding this iin Laura's series. I had two years of hospitalization with medications that affected vision and so now I am trying to get back into catching up once again with all of my cozies. Thank you.